Competition brewing has arrived

Mar. 6, 2014

Written by

Eric

Connor

Here’s a call to all Upstate home brewers: Your opportunity to take your brew to the next level is coming this spring.

Two competitions. Two breweries that will produce and distribute the winner’s creation.

First is the competition at the Hub City Hog Fest on March 28 in downtown Spartanburg.

This is the second year for the Hog Fest, a barbecue contest that generated a lot of interest and sold-out spots in the competition last year.

The city of Spartanburg will block off streets in the Grain District, the city’s evolving entertainment and arts district downtown where esteemed brewery RJ Rockers lays its claim.

Barbecue won’t be the only contest.

The home brew competition, sponsored by RJ Rockers and the Growler Haus, will offer the winner an opportunity to have his or her beer brewed on RJ’s 35-barrel system.

The Growler Haus, with locations in Spartanburg and Anderson, will hold exclusive rights to the winning beer for 30 days.

The competition commences at 6 p.m., with a people’s choice tasting, and judging starting at 7 p.m.

Home brewers entering the contest will need to bring a dozen 12-ounce bottles. Ten bottles will be made available for the people’s choice area. Five tickets will be given to each participant to manage the tasting process.

The competition requires that contestants brew with California Ale yeast. The cost for each entry is $10, and there is no limit to the number of entries.

The money raised goes to the charity Mobile Meals.

By the popular demand of home brewers, the competition will feature a “funky style” entry — though any funky beers won’t be available for the grand RJ Rocker’s brewing prize.

All entries are due at the Growler Haus in Spartanburg the day before the competition.

The Gold winner gets a $245 kegging system from Greenville’s Grape & Grains home brew supply store and brewery. Silver gets a $100 gift certificate to the Growler Haus. Bronze wins a $50 gift certificate for the Greenville Hop House on East North Street.

Once the Hog Fest is wrapped up, it’ll be time to look ahead to May in Greenville. The Growler Station in the West End will be hosting its Premier Upstate Home Brewing Competition on May 17.

The event invites home brewers from across the Southeast and will be judged and sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association and Beer Judge Certification Program, which certifies and ranks beer judges.

The winner of the competition will get to spend a day and learn at Greenville’s Thomas Creek Brewery and have the winning brew produced by the brewery.

The product will be distributed at The Growler Station, and all proceeds will go to a charity of the winner’s choice.